MAOMING (RVA News): The faithful in Maoming, Guangdong, joyfully celebrated the reopening of their parish church on August 23, after years of closure for major restoration works. The church, originally dedicated to St. Aloysius Gonzaga, has now been rededicated to Merciful Jesus, Fides reported.
Bishop Paul Su Yongda of Beihai/Zhanjiang, presided over the consecration and Mass in the newly restored church, which was first founded in 1921.
In his homily, Bishop Su reminded the faithful that a church is more than a building, it is a visible sign of God’s loving presence. “Here the baptised draw strength and courage, nourish their faith, and find comfort in the sources of salvation given by the Lord,” he said.
The reopening is another milestone in the revival of the local Church where several historic churches have been restored in recent years.
The diocese, with roots in the missionary efforts of the Paris Foreign Missions Society, counts about 50,000 Catholics, 10 priests, and a dozen religious sisters serving 15 parishes and chapels.
